DUTCHMAN HANG ON TO KNOCK DAWGS FROM POST SEASON

The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs welcomed the Albany Dutchman to Veteran’s Memorial Park for round one of the Perfect Game Collegiate League (PGCBL) playoffs. The Dutchman earned the chance to meet the DiamondDawgs after winning a 16-inning win or go home scenario in Glens Falls and pulled off a 6-5 win eleven innings.

Both teams sent a pair of 3-1 starters to the mound with Mohawk Valley starting Jared Dye (ULM) and Albany sending Matt Gallup (Hudson Valley C.C) to the hill. The DiamondDawgs jumped out to a quick lead when Willie Shaw (William & Mary) doubled to give Mohawk Valley a 1-0 lead.

The Dutchman came rallying back in the top of the second when Zack Remillard (Coastal Carolina), Chris Suseck (Coastal Carolina) and Justin Brock (Franklin Pierce) all singled and tied the game up at one.

The Dawgs had a scoring chance in the second after Jordan Friend (Alabama A&M) singled and Sam Dexter (Southern Maine) was hit by a pitch but Mike Fischer (Columbia) single forcing a runner out at second and the inning ended unexpectedly as Friend came home and was thrown out.

The Dawgs, however came roaring back in the bottom of the third when Willie Shaw (William & Mary) walked, Dalton Herrington (ULM) tripled scoring a run and Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) ran out a bunt tying the game at three. The DiamondDawgs jumped out in front when Craig Lepre (UAlbany) singled scoring a run and the Dawgs led 4-3 but the inning ended when Lepre was picked off trying to go to second.

The Dutchman were able to tie the ball game in the top half of the fourth when Justin Brock (Franklin Pierce) reached on an error by the third baseman, Nick Morton (Trinity) singled and then a fly to left field by Anthony Marks (Coastal Carolina) scored the tying fourth run. The Dutchman took the lead in the top of the seventh when Matthew Dacey (Michigan) just cleared the centerfield fence with a homerun and the 5-4 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth Dalton Herrington (ULM) singled and Landon Thibodeaux (LSU Eunice) laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing the runner for Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) who sent him home with a double tying the game at five. The DiamondDawgs had a chance to take the lead with Rodrigue at third but Jordan Friend (Alabama A&M) grounded out to end the inning.

The Dawgs had a chance to walk off with a victory in the ninth when Sam Dexter reached on catcher interference and was moved over by Mike Fischer on a sacrifice bunt but the Dawgs were unable to take advantage as the game went to extra innings.

Keegan Long (Saint Joseph’s) shut down the side as he stuck out all three batters he faced in the top of the tenth in Matthew Dacey (Michigan), Zack Remillard (Coastal Carolina) and Chris Suseck (Coastal Carolina).

In their half of the tenth the Dawgs were able to put a man on by way of Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) but that would be all as the game headed to the eleventh.

Albany would score first in extra innings when Lukas Nethaway (Saint Rose) and Anthony Marks (Coastal Carolina) singled and Bradley Noland (North Alabama) and Tyler Orris (Millersville) would walk sending over the go-ahead run, 6-5. The Dawgs attempted to rally in the bottom half of the inning when Jordan Friend (Alabama A&M) walked, Sam Dexter (Southern Maine) sacrificed and Jordan Serena (Columbia) walked and stole a base but they were unable to bring them home as Albany walked away win the win 6-5.

The win for Albany goes to Thomas Belcher (Indiana) who pitched 2 innings giving up a hit and one strikeout and improved to 5-1 while Bryan Carr (Saint Rose) picked up his first save. The loss for Mohawk Valley goes to Keegan Long (Saint Joseph’s) who pitched 6 2/3 gave up 7 hits 2 runs and struck out 6.

The Albany Dutchman will head to Amsterdam tomorrow to kick off the divisional series against the Mohawks for game one while Mohawk Valley finishes the season 26-20.

DAWGS DROP LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME TO NEWARK

The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs played their final regular season home game on Wednesday night against another playoff bound team in the Newark Pilots. The DiamondDawgs came into the contest having clinched second place in the and Perfect Game Collegiate League (PGCBL) East while Newark entered the ball game in a tie for the second spot in West with Elmira. The Pilots soared in to Vet’s Park and handed the DiamondDawgs a 6-1 loss.

The Pilots jumped out early on the Dawgs as Josh Ludwig (Rochester) singled and moved to second on a wild pitch and then a single by Coleman Lucas gave Newark a 1-0 lead. Trey Hunt III (Point Loma Nazarene) too over for Zack Williams (UC Davis) in the third inning and pitched a scoreless inning despite getting into trouble early by walking Sam Fox ( Pomona-Pitzer) and allowing Steve Laurino (Marist) to single, Max Rosing (Cortland State) to double and Samm Wiggins (Houston Baptist) walked.

In the top of the fourth the Pilots tacked on 2 more runs as Coleman Lukas (Pomona-Pitzer) reached on an error and then a pass ball and a walk to Sam Fox ( Pomona-Pitzer) gave way to a Max Rosing (Cortland State) single giving the Pilots a 2-0 lead. That lead quickly expanded to 4-0 after Samm Wiggins (Houston Baptist) stroked a single.

Newark had an opportunity to expand the lead in the fifth when they loaded the bases but came up empty handed. However, they were back at it in the sixth when they scored two runs to take a 6-0 advantage.

The DiamondDawgs finally were able to get on the board in the seventh when Matt Zanotta (Bryant) singled, Mike Fischer (Columbia) walked and Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) doubled to score a run making it 6-1.

The win for the Newark Pilots went to James Mills (Young Harris) while Mohawk Valley’s Zack Williams (UC Davis) got the loss.

Following the game, Mohawk Valley Diamond Willie Shaw (William & Mary) gave fans a special treat with an acoustical performance on the field.

The DiamondDawgs are back at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Little Falls, NY for its first round playoff matchup.

DAWGS WIN TWO AT HOME-NOW PLAYOFF BOUND

The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs and Elmira Pioneers met at Veteran’s Memorial Park for a Perfect Game Collegiate League (PGCBL) contest on Tuesday night for a doubleheader. The Dawgs swept Elmira winning 6-4 in game one and then in walk-off fashion in game two, 3-2.

In game one of the doubleheader Chris Knott (East Stroudsburg) belted the first pitch he saw off of starter Mike DeCarlo (Herkimer C.C) to give Elmira a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. The DiamondDawgs were quick to respond as Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) launched a homerun to centerfield to tie things up and Trey Hunt III followed with a 2-run homerun to give the Dawgs a 3-1 lead.

The top of the fourth saw Elmira shorten the lead to 3-2 when Spencer Henderson (UC Davis) doubled and then scored on a pass ball. The DiamondDawgs again responded in the bottom of the fourth when Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) hit his second homerun of the game and singles by Sam Dexter (Southern Maine) and a double by Willie Shaw (William & Mary) gave the Dawgs a 6-2 advantage.

Elmira came roaring back in the top of the sixth when Spencer Henderson (UC Davis) doubled, Ryan Plantier (Cornell) singled, Chris Knott (East Stroudsburg) doubled and Dave Hoffman (Siena) singled to cut the lead to 6-4. The Pioneers gave it a valiant effort in the final inning as they loaded the bases but closer Zach Williams (UC Davis) closed out the game and secured the win picking up the his second save as Mike DeCarlo (Herkimer C.C) improved to 3-3 on the season in 5.2 inning pitched while Jim Tunison (Misericordia) got the loss in 4 innings of work allowing 6 runs and picking up a strikeout.

Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) led the DiamondDawgs going 2-for-3 with 2 homeruns, while Jordan Serena (Columbia) had a double, Craig Lepre (UAlbany) was 2-for-3 with a double and Sam Dexter (Southern Maine) was 2-for-3 with a double. The Elmira Pioneers were led by Spencer Henderson who went 2-for-3 and Chris Knott was 2-for-3 with a double

In game two, Taylor Wright (Brown) sparred off against Jasper Adams (Ithaca) and it was the Pioneers who jumped out first after Brain Bashara (Old Dominion) grounded out forcing over a run and taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Dawgs waiting until the fourth inning to tie it up after Trey Hunt III, Jordan Friend and Sam Dexter all singled. The very next inning the Dawgs jumped out in front after Mike Fischer (Columbia) doubled and Casey Rodrigue (Indiana) brought him home with a sacrifice bunt to take a 2-1 lead. The Pioneers tied the ball game up in the sixth when Ryan Plantier (Cornell) walked and Chris Knott (East Stroudsburg and Colby Gee (Ithaca) were hit by pitches and a Brian Bashara pop up scored a run.

The DiamondDawgs took to the seventh inning and Mike Fischer (Columbia) singled while Craig Lepre (UAlbany) reached on an error and then a pass ball tossed by losing pitcher Brandon Diorio (Ithaca) sealed the deal as the Dawgs won 3-2. The winning pitcher of record was Patrick Michon (Texas A&M) who pitched 1.2 innings and struck out two while the loss goes to Brandon Diorio (Ithaca).